Hoisting apparatus.



v n. v. BAMSAY,

HOISTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14 I917.

1,252,174; A I patenteuanyL'wls.

2 SK EETB-8HEET l.

H. v. RAMSAY.

' HOISTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14. 1917- 1,252,174. Patented jan. 1,1918. Q

\ 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- HUGH VERNON RAMSAY, OF GLOUCESTER CITY, NEW JERSEY.

HOISTING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 14, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH VERNON RAM- SAY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Gloucester City, county of Camden, and State ofNew Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Hoisting Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable electricallyactuated hoisting apparatus, more particularly for use on ships, wherebythe danger, incident to the use of electricity in the vicinity of vaporsand gases from cargoes of oil, etc.', is avoided.

.My object is also to so operate the electrically actuated hoistingapparatus that a constant-speed electric motor may be employed as ameans of operating the hoist at a lower initial cost and without thedanger from sparking due to variable speed or seriesmotors which haveheretofore been em-' ployed on ships in work of the character to whichmy invention is directed.

Heretofore, in the operation of electrically actuated hoisting machineryon ships and especially those designed for carrying-cargoes of oil andmaterials in bulk from which there is liability of the generation ofcombustive or explosive vapors and gases, there was a constant danger ofignition of the vapors and gases with resulting fire and in many cases,destruction of the vessel; and this danger has been due primarily to thes stem employed for electrically operating the hoisting machinery,andespecially due to the fact. that the variable speed and reversibilityof the hoisting machinery de pended upon the employment of variablespeedelectric motors such as a serles-motor controlled by a series-parallelcontroller and reversing switch which, in operation, produceobjectionable electric arcing o a dangerous character when in thepresence of the escaping vapors and gases aforesaid. In these prioruses, the controlling and reversing switch was arran ed at the hoistingapparatus on the deck 0 the vessel, and hence, above the stored oil orcombustive contents, and consequently in the direct path of the escapinggases and explosive vapors arising therefrom. More particularly,myvolnect is to provide the hoistin a paratus with mechanicallycontrolled GVIOBS'fOI' permitting reversal of the cables and drum andfor interinittently putting the drum into and out of operation, as inmanipulation of the load,

Specification of Letters Patent.

K reversin Patented J an. 1, 1918.

Serial No. 161,969.

while at the same time employing a constantspeed and continuously actingand non-revers ble 1 electric motor and moreover, elim nating allcontrollin switches and reverslng means at the hoisting apparatus, andlocatlng the controlling swltch, for controlling the energizing of themotor circuits, in the engine room and itself operatively controlled bysuitable means extending to the hoisting apparatus but devoid of alldangerous tendency of ignition to any vapors or gases which may bearising from the cargo contents. My invention consists, therefore inprovid-ing the deck of the vessel with one or more electrically actuatedhoisting apparatus employing a constant-speed non-reversing motor,receiving its energizing current from a dynamo in the engine room of thevessel and controlled by a circuit controlling switch located in thesaid engine room, or other protected portion of the ship at a distancefrom the hoisting apparatus, the latter having capacity for beingmechanically manipulated for controllin and the winding drum indepenentl} of the e ectric drive which operates it.

My invention also consists offurther improvements hereinafter described,whereby the objects and results hereinbefore recited are attained, saidimprovements comprisin certain organization and combination 0 partswhich are fully described hereinafter and moreparticularl defined in theclaims.

For the purpose 0 illustrating my inven-- tion, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings the embodiment thereof which is at resentpreferred by me, since the same is in form to give satisfactor andreliable re-- sults, but it is to be un erstood-that the severalinstrumentalities of which my invention consists, can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not 7 switch 7 operatedto side elevation of the same; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section ofaportionof the same taken on line wv of Fig. 4. I

2 represents the hull of the ship and may be of any suitableconstruction, but in the more advantageous use of my improvements, suchship would be designed for carrying oil or liquid fuel, in bulk, asbefore stated. 3 indicates the engine and boiler room usually arrangedat the stern end of the vessel. 4 represents two sets of hoisting aparatus, one adjacent to each of the masts an cranes (not shown). 5vrepresents the electric circuits leading from the motors of the hoistingapparatus to the engine and boiler room, wherein is-located a suitabledynamo 8- andth'e'controlling switch 7 intended for controlling thecurrent passing from the dynamo to the electric motors of the hoistingapparatus. 6 represents devices in connection with the circuits forcontrolling the operation of the switch 7, said devices 6 being arrangedon the deck adjacent to the hoisting devices 4. While I have indicated aplurality of hoisting devices 4 on the ship, I do not restrict myself inthis regard, as. one or more hoists niay be employed, as required orpreferred.

Refer-ring to the diagram Fig. 2 it will be observed that the currentfrom the dynamo 8 passes "through the starting switch 7 and thence bycircuits 10. Theelectric current is conveyed to the electric motors 9,said motors being shunt wound and of a constant-s eed and referably ofnon-reversible type. lhe starting switch 7 may be of any suitable type,such for example, as in the diagram illustrating a form having arheostat 7 controlled by a pivoted contact arm 11, said arm being movedto open the switch by means of a spring '13 and to close the switch byan electromagnetic motor device 12. The electromagnetic motor device maybe energized by the current in the electric circuit '14 containing asecondary battery 15 andcontrolled ba manually operated switch 6; ofwhich t ere is a similar switch adjacent to each of the hoistingapparatus 4. It will now be understood that, by closing the switch 6,the electromagnetic motor device 1.2 will be energized and the startingclose the electric motor circuit 10 and thus put the dynamo 8 into I mayemploy communication with the motors 9, causing them to: rotate.Thereafter, the motors 9 of the hoisting apparatus will run continuouslyand at constant-speed until the switch.

7 is released and automatically opened. To avoid necessity of holdingthe switch 7 in closed condition by the electromagnetic motor device 12after starting the motors a9, a latch 11 to hold the contact lever 11inclosed position and actuate said latch to release the lever 11 by anelectromagnet 12 contained in a circuit" 14 con- ,the s trolled bymanually operated switches 6 adjacent to the switch 6 before referredto. In this manner, the starting switch 7 will maintain the circuit 10closed, and put the motors 9 into action. This condition will continueuntil the manually operated switch 6 is manipulated to energize themagnet 12, and when such operation occurs, the latch 11" is operated torelease the lever 11, whereupon the spring 13 automatically returns thelever 11 to its open position, as indicated. The manually operatedswitches 6 and 6 are normally opened, and when operated are designed tohold either the circuit 14 or 14 temporarily closed for a limited periodonly, that is for closing the switch 7 -or releasing the latch thereofto allow it to automaticall open.

It will be seen from ig. 2, that the two sets of motors and switches forthe respective hoisting devices are connected in parallel, but this isnot essential. It will be manifest that if the motor 9 and itscorresponding switches 6 and 6' at the right hand of Fig. 2 wereomitted, the apparatus remaining would be a complete dlsclosure of myimprovements, in so far as the electrical portion thereof is indicated;and it is further manifest that there may be any required duplication ofsuch devices to correspond to as many-independent hoisting apso f inwhichthe shafts 19 and 24 are respeetively journaled. The ends of theshaft 19 are provided with grooved drums 21 and the corresponding endsof they shaft 24 are provided with of larger diameter than the drums 21,and of such proportion as 'will make their surface speeds equal' thoseof the drums 21, this being required owing to the employment of grooveddrums 26 preferably the speed reducing gears 22 and 23 between I afts 19and 24. The shaft 19 is further provided with a spur gear 18 with whichmeshes driven by the cured to the base 16. This motor '9 isaconstant-speed non-reversible motor, and re-.

quires no attention on-the artof the hoisttender, asit always revo vesin the same direction and at. the same speed, irrespective of themanipulations of the the latter being so constructed that it is possibleto employ a non-reversible constantspeed electric motor as the motivepower as distinguished from the variable-speed re-" hoist apparatus,

pinion 17, the latter being electric motor 9. whichis sevided with apinion 22 which meshes with a large gear wheel 23 secured to the shaft24 aforesaid. Loosely gournaled upon the shaft 24 is a drum 31 or.receiving the hoisting cable (not shown); said drum is provi e d with adisk-shaped head 32 at one end having upon its periphery a brake-bandgroove 33 which is encircled by the brakeband 37. Within the outerflange of the head is arranged an internal gear 34. Loosely journaledupon the shaft 24 and adjacent to the head 34 of the drum 31 is aflanged disk 27 also having about its perimeter a brake-band groove 28which receives a brake-band 36. This disk 27 is further provided withthree studs 29 extend- Keyed to the shaft 24 between the hubs of to meshwith the three pinions 30. It will the head 32-,and the disk 27 is agear which has a diameter sufficient to enable it thus be understoodthat when the shaft 24 rotates, the gear 35 thereof will rotate thethree pinions 30 and cause them to movablymesh with the internal gear34. It will be further understood that, if the brake-band 36 isclampedto holdthe disk 27 against revolution (and brake-band 37released) the rotation of the shaft 34 will cause the drum 31 to berotated in the opposite direction to the 1 shaft 24 and at a relativelyslower .speed. If the brake-band 37 is clamped to hold the drum 31against revolution (and the band 36 is released), the rotation of theshaft 24- will cause the inions 30 to revolve upon their own axis wilerevolving about the shaft 24 within the stationary internal gear 34 andthis'will cause the disk 27 to revolve in the same direction with theshaft 24, but at a slower speed. The means for operatin thesebrake-bands 36 and 37 consist of t e following instrumentalities:Arock-shaft 38 is provided with two oppositely directed arms 39 and 40,arm 39 being secured to one end of the brake-band 37,.

as the rocking of the shaft 38 will .operate the brake-bands 36 and 37alternately, that is to say, when the brake-band 36 is tightened, thebrake-band 37 is loosened and vice versa. By this means, bothbrake-bands may be loose so that not only is the drhm 31 free to rotate,butthe disk 27 is also free; and further, if the brake-band 36 is ,tihtened the disk 27 remains stationary w ile the drum 31 is rotated andconversely, if

lower end is hinged to a bracket on the bed or base 16.

The operation of this hoisting apparatus will now be understood.Assuming that a suitable cable. is secured to the drum 31 and that theelectric motor 9 is running freely and at constant-speed, themanipulations for raising and lowering, or for supporting the load areas follows: To elevate the oad, the lever 42 is movedto the right (Fig.4), which action clamps the brake-band 36 and causes the drum 31 to bepositively rotated through the medium of the gears 35, 30 and 34. If itis desired to lower the load, then the lever.42 is moved to the ositionshown in Fig. 4 which loosens botht e brake-bands 36 and 37 and theweight of the load will then cause the drum 31 to rotate and the cableto unwind. If the load is to be arrested in its descent the lever 42 ismoved to the left '(Fi 4), which causes the brakeband 37 to tig ten uponthe head 32.0f the drum and check its rotation, during which time thedisk 27 is free to rotate. By manipulation of the lever 42, it i evidentthat the load may be lowered intermittently or with any gradual speeddesired by controlling the brake action of thebrake-band 37. It will befurther understood that by suitable manipulation of the lever 42, theload "degrees such as balancing it in the air during'the positioning ofthe boom to insure proper clearin ingg'of the 10a to proper place ofdeposit.

y reason of the special construction of hoisting-apparatus and circuitsfor controlling the motlve power thereof, herein de scribed, the use ofall control switches adjacen't to the motor and the hoisting apparatus,for handling the large currents supplied thereto are omitted, andinstead, switches of a simpler nature are located in a rotected areadown in the engine room adjacent to the dynamo, and therefore, the motormay be incased and so protected that the commutator and brushes offer nochance for igniting explosive gases or vapors which may arise from thehold and pass upward around the hoisting apparatus. Moreover, as theconstruction of themotor is of the constant-speed type, there is no suchirregularity in the current as to produce ob ec-. tionable sparking atthe commutators, and furthermore, as there is no reversing switch ofobstructions and lowerand series-parallel controller, or rheostatadjacent to the hoisting apparatus, the danger of explosion of gases andvapors due to the sparking or arcing of these devices is entirelyobviated. The small switches 6 and 6, operating.as they do upon arelative low and the devices shown; that is to say, the, operation ofthe armatures of the electromagnetic devices 12 and 12fmay act as asignal to the engineer. j

Aside from using the hoisting apparatus and the lifting cable on theprinciple of a crane equipment, the drums 21 and 26 of the respectiveshafts 19 and 24 enable the apparatus to be used as a winch such asmight be employed in operating cables leading horizontally to adistance, the cables being wound about the said drums and thereby,through frictional contact with the drums, transmitting the, power tothe cable. As the drums 21 and 26 have diameters inversely proportionalto the speed of revolution of the respective shafts 19 and 24, it ismanifest that the surface speed of the drumsmay, by suitableproportioning of the diameters" of the drums, be made to be-more or lessequal and in that manner cause both drums to pull upon the cable withsatisfactory results;.and moreover, the .employment of two drumsoperating upon a singlev cable doubles the frictional contact andenables a stronger grip upon the cable than if a single drum wereemployed, even though there were more turns ofthe cable upon 1t.Furthermore, by employing two drums in cooperation, aside. from thefrictional ull upon the cable being very efiicient, the an-.

ger of the cable loops interfering by winding upon themselves isconsiderably reduced,

and consequently the apparatus herein embodied in my improvements ismore desirable than the winch construction heretofore in use.

The simpli tire apparatus will be readily a' preciated when it is bornein mind that t ere is no varying of the motive power, current, orreversing of the motor or the current therein during the operation ofthe hoisting devices, and consequently the hoist-tender is only requiredto manipulate the single lever 42 to city of the operation of theenaccomplish every handling of the load which may be required, no matterhow complicated may be the required manipulations thereof.

In the case of my improvements, all of the attention to the motor iseliminated, no reversing switches are employed and the entiremanipulation of the load in hoisting, lowering and suspending, is allcontrolled by a sin le lever so constructed that it is not possi le toinduce confusion of operation. Therefore, not only isthe hoist apparatusembodying my improvements considerably simplified and more easy ofoperation than systems heretofore in use, but all danger of causingexplosions in vessels carrying fluids or materials from which explosivegasesand vapors arise, is entirely overcome. I

It will now be apparent that I have de-. vised a novel and usefulconstruction which embodies the features of advantage enumerl ated asdesirable, and while I have in thel present instance shown and describedthe preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice togive satisfactory and reliable results, it, is to be understood that Ido not restrict myself to the details, as the same are susceptible ofmodification in various particulars without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire tosecure by Letters Patent,-is:

1. The combination with a ship of a hoisting apparatus on the deckthereof comprising a mechanically controlled manually operated hoistingdevice, and a constant-speed electric motor therefor, a sourceinf.electric energy foroperatlng the motor in the engine room of the ship, acircuit leading from the source of energy to the motor, a switch 2. Thecombination with a ship of a hoisting amechanically controlled manuallyoperated hoisting device, and a constant-speed electric motor therefor,a source of electric energy for operating the motor in themgine room ofthe ship, a circuit leading from the source ,of energy to the motor,a-switch in said circuit to put the motor into and out of operationlocated at a distance from the hoisting apparatus and its motor, andmeans extending from the hoisting apparatus to the switch for actuatingthe same whereby the hoist-tender may put the hoist and its ingapparatus on the'deck thereof comprismotor into and out of operationfrom a position adjacent to the hoist and at a distance from the controlswitch therefor, with said means comprising an electro-motor device foroperating the switch, electric circuits leading therefrom to a pointadjacent the hoisting apparatus, and controlling means adjacent thehoisting apparatus for opening or closing the electric clrcuits.

3. The combination of a hoisting apparatus having manually operatedmeans for controlling the time of action and direction of rotation ofthe winding drum, a constantspeed electric motor to operate the hoistingapparatus, a source of electric energy, circuits leading from the sourceof energy to the motor, a circuit switch at a distance from the motorand hoisting apparatus to open or close the circuits, and meansextending from adjacent the hoisting apparatus to the distantly locatedswitch for opening and closing the same. I

4. A ship, and a hoisting apparatus arranged u on the deck thereof andcomprising a ca le drum, a constant-speed nonreversible electric motorto operate it, and manually operable devices to cause the drum to bepositively rotated by the motor or released with freedom of rotationindependent of the motor and also to be held against rorotation, asrequired, in combination with a source of electric energy, circuitsleading from the source of energy to the motor, and a controlling switchfor the circuits arranged at a distance from the hoisting-apparatus, andseparate manually controlled means for actuating the distancecontrolling switch from a position adjacent the hoisting apparatus.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

HUGH 'VERNON RAMSAY.

Witnesses E. W. SMITH,

KATHRYN A. SUMMERs.

